Thomas W. Ford '42 Community Outreach Program

To bring Yale Athletics and Yale student-athletes into the New
Haven community

To provide Yale student-athletes with the opportunity to
become involved in community programs

To provide opportunities for community groups, organizations,
and schools to attend Yale athletic events and utilize Yale's
athletic facilities and fields

To continue to develop new creative programs that benefit the
New Haven community

In 1994, Director of Athletics Tom Beckett initiated a focus on
community outreach. The program could not be possible without the
tireless efforts of the Yale student athletes. The Thomas W. Ford
'42 Community Outreach Program was established in 1996 to bring
Yale Athletics and Yale student-athletes into the New Haven
community. The program is overseen by a member of the athletics
department and run by our Community Outreach Committee (COC). The
COC is an organization made up of student-athletes who are
committed to enhancing the Department of Athletics Community
Outreach Program in the New Haven community. Each of our 35 varsity
teams has a representative on the committee running the academic
year outreach program.

The Thomas W. Ford '42 Outreach is growing each year and has
become recognized as a tremendous resource for bringing many New
Haven children and their families to Yale's Campus. The program
runs a number of clinics, activities, and provides a number of
tickets to Yale sporting events for the youth of New Haven.

Student-Athlete Community Outreach Committee (COC)

"Commitment to the Community"

History:
COC was founded in 1995 to help develop the Department of Athletics
community outreach program.

Overview:
The Thomas W. Ford '42 Student-Athlete Community Outreach Committee
(COC) is an affiliate organization of Dwight Hall at Yale. Our
members are varsity student-athletes, club sports athletes,
intramural, and recreational athletes. Simply, we are
undergraduates who share an interest in sports and community
service.

Objective:
The main goal of COC activities is two-fold. We strive to bring
Yale student-athletes and Yale Athletics into the New Haven
community and to bring the New Haven community onto the Yale campus
to be a part of Yale Athletics. COC members volunteer at hospitals
and schools but also organize events at Yale's gyms and playing
fields. Regular COC meetings take place in the evenings at the Ray
Tompkins House or Dwight Hall.

COC Organization:
The committee is made up of student-athletes who act as community
outreach liaisons to their respective teams and outreach programs.
In addition to organizing efforts within their teams, committee
members coordinate overall activities for the COC, as well plan
monthly meetings. They further promote the on campus and serve as a
resource to undergraduate organizations. They meet weekly with the
athletic department advisor in working to make the program better
each and every day. The goal of this committee is to have all 35
teams actively involved.

The amount of time dedicated by each COC member varies according
to the individual's level of interest. COC Officers and project
coordinators meet weekly to plan outreach activities, some
volunteers meet weekly with their young Bulldog Buddies, while
other student-athletes might only participate at one Youth Day a
year. Members' time commitments vary according to the constraints
of their athletic schedule and are decided by each individual.